Zimmer Partners LP Makes New Investment in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

Zimmer Partners LP acquired a new stake in Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE:WMS - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 210,000 shares of the construction company's stock, valued at approximately $24,276,000. Zimmer Partners LP owned 0.27% of Advanced Drainage Systems at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WMS. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 12.7% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 781 shares of the construction company's stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 38.3% during the fourth quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 4,228 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $489,000 after buying an additional 1,171 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 14.0% during the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 163,910 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $18,948,000 after buying an additional 20,146 shares during the period. D.B. Root & Company LLC grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 64.9% during the fourth quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC now owns 5,658 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $654,000 after buying an additional 2,227 shares during the period. Finally, Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,417 shares of the construction company's stock valued at $857,000 after buying an additional 338 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.83% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on WMS. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $146.00 to $141.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. KeyCorp lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $180.00 to $135.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Stephens restated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Loop Capital lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $143.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on Advanced Drainage Systems from $155.00 to $146.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $139.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WMS opened at $119.24 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $9.25 billion, a PE ratio of 19.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.31. Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $93.92 and a fifty-two week high of $181.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 3.21. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $109.88 and a 200-day moving average of $118.88.

Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 15th. The construction company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $615.76 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $653.22 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 15.90% and a return on equity of 35.79%. Advanced Drainage Systems's revenue for the quarter was down 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.23 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This is a boost from Advanced Drainage Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.60%. Advanced Drainage Systems's payout ratio is 12.50%.

Advanced Drainage Systems Profile

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products in North America and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments. It offers single, double, and triple wall corrugated polypropylene and polyethylene pipes; plastic leachfield chambers and systems; EZflow synthetic aggregate bundles; wastewater purification through mechanical aeration wastewater for residential and commercial systems; septic tanks and accessories; combined treatment and dispersal systems, including advanced enviro-septic and advanced treatment leachfield systems; and allied products, including storm retention/detention and septic chambers, polyvinyl chloride drainage structures, fittings, and water quality filters and separators.

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